The Mountain Astrologer

your gateway to understanding the cosmos

Every once in awhile I like to write about a book of particular interest for TMA‘s blog. Eclipses and You: How to Align with Life’s Hidden Tides, by Judith Hill, is a book with wide appeal. (1) Although written for the lay reader, there are lots of additions for practicing astrologers in this substantive but easy-to-read-and-apply book.

Judith Hill has an understanding of eclipses born from her long experience with clients and her dedication to astrological research. (Her first paid astrological reading was when she was 14. Now she is somewhere close to my age, so no need to mention how old she is; let’s just say she’s in her prime.)

The author has creative analogies for understanding the essential nature of eclipses and refers to earlier writers’ ideas on the subject, i.e., Robert Carl Jansky and H. S. Green. She speaks of the “tidal waves” of change at eclipse times and describes the four types of eclipses (i.e., North and South Node, Solar and Lunar) in detail. She first establishes the view of north node eclipses as being a “power surge,” or entry point of energy, while the south node eclipse is inclined towards “power outage.” Herein we see echoes of the often recognized view of the north node as the entry point for energy or information and the south node as a release or discharge point.

Although she suggests a professional astrology session for a more specific delineation, Hill also offers a great range of practical ideas for how an eclipse in each sign (both solar and lunar) will impact each of the twelve signs. She is proactive and remedial in approach. Chapter 3: What Can I Do? has suggestions for minimizing the potential negative impact of an upcoming eclipse. (The book has a table for eclipse dates from 2013-2023 which includes the nodal type.) Chapter 6: For Those Who Read Charts has timing tips, notes on planets connected to the eclipse including interpretations by south or north node polarity, and more.

The author’s descriptions of the zodiac signs are informed by her knowledge of many areas within Classical Western Astrology —mundane, horary, vocational, electional — and especially her expertise in medical astrology. Each section includes Medical Effects and Cautions for eclipses in each of the twelve signs, and more specifics as they are relevant for the eclipse’s possible health-related manifestations in each of the other signs. (For example, the section of Cautions for a Pisces eclipse — either solar or lunar — begins: “Anyone on psychiatric medications should be vigilant at this time because Piscean eclipses are highly stimulating to the subconscious mind. Persons suffering from depressive disorders may notice the increasing pressure wave of these eclipses.”)

Hill’s range of interpretations is also noteworthy. A partial description of arenas that may experience “positive or negative waves” at a Virgo Eclipse for Aquarius and/or Aquarius Rising reads “health transformations and improvements, research and analysis, service to others in crises, accounting, financial details, sexual issues and practices, psychoanalysis and self-understanding, spiritual investigation, medicines, health renewals, liver and bowel purification, spouse’s income, health of others, public crises, practical sciences, animal and pet health, arcane research and metaphysical studies. This is a most important phase in an Aquarian’s personal eclipse cycle. It is often the time to dedicate yourself to spiritual, financial, and physical renewal. Correct your mistakes. Discipline, consistency, attention to detail and patience are now required of you.”

Judith Hill offers a great deal of useful information for practicing astrologers, as well as giving the more general reader an exceptionally helpful tour of “aligning with life’s hidden tides.” I think many of you would enjoy her book.